😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $912 in Long Mountain, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,473 in Long Mountain, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,034 in Long Mountain, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 39% more than Long Mountain, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Long Mountain are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Long Mountain32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$6.45MUR 304
84.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$33.28MUR 1,567
28.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$7.01MUR 330
51.93%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.40MUR 66.1
146.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.96MUR 45.25
56.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.57MUR 26.72
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$2.04MUR 96.0
48.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$2.69MUR 127
71.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.46MUR 68.8
-5.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.23MUR 10.86
704.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.27MUR 59.9
26.77%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$2.34MUR 110
10.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$11.66MUR 549
-29.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$3.95MUR 186
111.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$7.65MUR 360
39.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.96MUR 92.3
34.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.88MUR 88.7
-20.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.43MUR 67.4
34.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$1.69MUR 79.5
23.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$0.98MUR 46.26
89.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$1.02MUR 47.84
121.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.80MUR 37.49
32.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.67MUR 31.77
62.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$6.61MUR 311
-37.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$6.24MUR 294
66.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.61MUR 75.8
6.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$2.17MUR 102
20.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$1.03MUR 48.66
-47.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$4.44MUR 209
-29.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$2.65MUR 125
-5.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$19.88MUR 936
-84.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.40MUR 66.0
-9.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$36.2KMUR 1.7M
-16.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$28.4KMUR 1.3M
-17.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$49.55MUR 2,333
67.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$11.09MUR 522
104.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$33.71MUR 1,587
-12.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$37.60MUR 1,771
35.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$17.89MUR 843
2.46%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$6.02MUR 284
-18.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$152MUR 7,134
30.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$886MUR 41.7K
495.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$33.33MUR 1,570
10.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$44.67MUR 2,103
-10.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$67.3MUR 3,169
18.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$66.3MUR 3,121
35.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$508MUR 23.9K
88.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$346MUR 16.3K
38.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$961MUR 45.3K
71.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$729MUR 34.3K
67.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$3,672MUR 172.9K
6.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$3,156MUR 148.6K
104.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$1,044MUR 49.2K
-36.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.67
71.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Long Mountain: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $508 in Long Mountain. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 57% higher in Long Mountain, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $33.00 in Long Mountain. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $185 – making Long Mountain the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Playa del Carmen vs Long Mountain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Long Mountain cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,368 in Long Mountain. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Long Mountain, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Long Mountain?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $33.00 in Long Mountain. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Long Mountain?
Groceries cost about 35% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Long Mountain?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Long Mountain, where all-in costs run around $912, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Long Mountain it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Long Mountain more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Long Mountain – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Long Mountain?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Long Mountain. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared